What is interrogation?
Isn't it commonly imprinted in people's minds as acts such as investigation, pressure, and questioning to uncover the truth?
Silverna had the same expectations when she came here.
But instead, she was greeted by the warm glow of candlelight, a sturdy wooden table exuding the refreshing scent of wind, simple snacks, and bottles of alcohol piled on top of it.
Lastly, there were even scattered, worn-out playing cards.
"..."
When Silverna saw this scene, so far removed from her usual understanding of interrogation, she clamped her mouth shut and simply stared.
Uldren, the primary culprit of this bizarre sight, cleared his throat awkwardly and began wrapping things up.
"Well, I suppose that's enough fun for now."
The others also started tidying up the cards, but Isaac's skill was something else.
With the finesse of a professional gambler, he gathered the cards and even gave them a clean shuffle.
"Ah, just a habit."
Grinning slyly, he handed the shuffled cards back to Uldren.
Back in his days as a ferryman, one of Isaac's primary sources of income had been card games.
Farmers, passing travelers, fellow ferrymen—he'd gather them all to play cards at the drop of a hat.
"You've done what you needed to, right?"
When Silverna looked at him suspiciously, Uldren coughed and stood up.
"If you're curious, just read the investigation report. I've organized everything."
The report Uldren handed over was written in an elegant, tidy script.
The moment Silverna recognized Isaac's handwriting, she put the report down with a dumbfounded expression.
"Are there really investigation reports written by the witnesses themselves?"
"Oh, milady."
Anna, standing behind her, called out cautiously.
Even as his daughter, scolding the Margrave too much in front of outsiders was inappropriate.
"..."
Silverna kept her mouth shut and resumed reading the report. Meanwhile, Uldren began issuing orders regarding the two.
"Both of them will be cleared of charges. However, I'll place them under your command in the Grand Colony so they can contribute to the kingdom."
"What? Isaac, I can understand, but even Liana Helmut?"
"She seems like a valuable asset not to be wasted."
"..."
Unable to respond, Silverna simply watched as Uldren left.
Judging by the report, he had apparently done all he needed before leaving.
"So, Isaac… was raised by a Transcendent when he was young?"
Silverna stared at Isaac with surprised eyes.
"Yeah."
"..."
His curt response indicated he wasn't planning to elaborate.
"So that's why you know about Transcendents and sorcery?"
"That's right."
"That's a pretty half-hearted excuse, don't you think?"
"Still, the Margrave accepted it."
"Transcendents supposedly kill humans on sight, don't they?"
"They were a half-blood."
Though she didn't seem fully convinced, Silverna let it go since Isaac's ally had already emerged.
"I heard about it a long time ago too."
Liana raised her hand and added,
"Isaac learned from an incredible teacher when he was young. That's why he knows so much about different things."
"..."
As she sat and stared at the married couple, Silverna couldn't shake the uneasy feeling.
"You learned to drink from that person too, right?"
"Yeah, when I was really young."
"Was it beer?"
"Wine."
"Right, wine."
Nodding, the couple turned their eyes back to Silverna.
'Why does it feel like they're lying?'
It seemed like a lie, but since they were saying it together, it was hard to call them out on it.
"They look like a con artist couple."
Anna's comment hit the nail on the head, scratching the itch Silverna couldn't reach.
But with the Margrave's judgment already decided, there was nothing she could do but follow it.
***
Exiting the interrogation room, Isaac walked through the fortress' cold corridors, illuminated by the flickering glow of lanterns along the walls.
'That was unexpected.'
Truthfully, Isaac was taken aback.
'I never imagined Liana would go along with the lie so seamlessly.'
The way she naturally picked up on his falsehoods, adding to the narrative without hesitation, had caught him off guard. Liana must have her doubts about him, too—questions about his attitude, his extensive knowledge of swords, and more.
But thanks to her cooperation, the situation had been smoothed over.
"That was a lie earlier, wasn't it?"
A voice came from behind him as he walked purposefully through the halls. Silverna had been trailing him since earlier, and at some point, Anna had quietly disappeared.
Isaac stopped in his tracks and turned to face her.
"Is this another interrogation?"
"It's not an interrogation. I'm not accusing you of anything, either."
"Then why are you asking?"
"Because you can tell me the truth."
Her words sounded almost like an appeal, making Isaac's expression harden.
"The truth about what?"
"We're comrades, aren't we? We've fought for our lives together."
"Being comrades doesn't mean sharing everything."
Even married couples had secrets from each other. Silverna fell silent at Isaac's curt reply.
"The Margrave trusted me. That should be enough for you too."
"He only trusted you because dealing with the Grand Colony is the priority right now. Even if there are inconsistencies in your story, he wants to make use of you as an asset."
"…."
Silverna's sharp words struck a nerve. Isaac steadied his breath before responding.
"Regardless, it was his choice."
"So that's how it's going to be?"
Silverna stepped closer, her chest nearly brushing against his.
"Silverna, that's enough." Isaac said firmly, unable to hold back anymore.
"What?"
"I understand how deep the camaraderie runs in the North. But like I said, not everyone shares everything."
"…."
"Just as you have secrets, so do I. I only ask that you trust my secrets won't harm anyone."
With those words, Isaac turned and continued down the corridor.
One step.
Two steps.
Three steps.
On the third step, Silverna's voice pierced through the silence like a direct arrow to his back.
"I like you."
"…."
Though they were indoors, Isaac suddenly felt as though a fierce wind was blowing. He froze in place, his body stiff, before slowly turning his head to look back at her.
Silverna stood with her arms crossed, nodding confidently.
"So, how about it? No more secrets now."
Her flushed face and accusatory finger only made Isaac let out a hollow laugh—one born of sheer disbelief.
He turned back toward her and reached out slowly, fastening the loose buttons on her shirt.
"At least dress properly. You're a grown woman, after all."
"Now it's your turn to spill a secret. Fair trade, right?"
The water had already been spilled, so to speak. Silverna pressed on boldly, but Isaac shook his head nonchalantly.
"That's not a secret."
"What?"
"I knew."
"H-Huh…?"
This time, the tables had turned. Silverna froze in place, her body stiffening as her face turned bright red, resembling a tomato.
Like a fish gasping for air, she opened and closed her mouth repeatedly, flailing her arms in panic.
"You… you knew? How? W-When?"
"I've known for a while."
Even Anna, his lieutenant, had once come to Isaac with a personal request—to keep some distance from Helmut and Caldias.
"W-Wait, hold on!"
Silverna turned her back in a fluster, touching her burning cheeks with her hands, which now felt hot enough to serve as a furnace in a blacksmith's forge.
"But Silverna—"
"Wait! Don't talk to me right now!"
"…"
Deciding to give her a moment, Isaac silently watched as Silverna crouched down. Her shoulders shook slightly, and she muttered something under her breath, seemingly trying to collect herself.
After a moment, she stood up straight, having apparently regained her composure.
"Alright!"
She turned back to face Isaac.
"Ugh, damn it."
But the moment their eyes met, the embarrassment flooded back, and she instinctively covered her mouth with her hand, stepping backward.
"Let me make this clear. I'm a married man."
"Hmph."
"…Did you just laugh?"
"No, no. I didn't laugh."
What was that?
Even though her hand covered her mouth, it seemed like she'd stifled a laugh.
'No way… does she actually prefer married men or something?'
Did she laugh because she found it amusing or even appealing?
Regardless, Isaac continued.
"Since I'm married, there's no need for me to respond to your confession, right?"
"…"
Silverna crossed her arms and glared at him. Her face was still bright red, but she seemed to have given up on hiding it.
"What now?"
"It's a little unfair. I was honest about my feelings."
"And I was honest in saying I can't accept them."
"That's just what you have to say in your position."
Silverna was a natural-born genius. If you taught her one thing, she'd grasp ten.
"Of course, a married man can't accept another's feelings. I'm not unreasonable."
Anna's advice about this being a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity had sparked an idea in Silverna's sharp mind.
"Setting everything else aside, can't you just tell me what you personally think of me?"
"Does that even matter?"
"Come on, show some consideration. You're the first man to ever make my heart race. At least let me have a proper ending to this."
"…"
Isaac hesitated briefly, fully aware of how significant the conclusion to a first love could be. After a moment, he spoke honestly.
"Alright. You're a very attractive woman. Honestly, I'm flattered that you feel this way about me."
"If Liana wasn't in your life…"
"…"
"Would you have chosen me instead?"
Silverna placed a hand over her heart, her expression filled with a heavy sincerity as she asked the question.
Isaac, without realizing it, nodded slightly.
"Y-Yeah, maybe I would have. But what does it matter? I'm married anyway."
"Hmph."
Was that a laugh just now?
Before Isaac could ask, Silverna nodded firmly and smiled brightly.
"Thank you, Isaac."
"Uh, Silverna," Isaac asked cautiously, feeling uneasy.
"Do you… know something?"
"Hm?"
"It just seems like… you're hiding something."
Carefully choosing his words, Isaac pressed on. Silverna, however, simply chuckled mischievously.
"Even comrades can have secrets, Isaac."
***
Silverna's steps were light as she left.
Isaac remained at the fortress, saying he had somewhere to visit, but Silverna was eager to tell Anna the good news.
Then she saw her—a red-haired woman standing at the entrance, staring at her.
'So she wasn't lying about helmut has sharp ears.'
It seems Sharen's words weren't a lie.
The woman's presence exuded an air of knowing everything that had happened.
Without slowing her stride, Silverna walked past her and declared,
"I won't apologize. And I won't feel guilty."
"…"
"You're the one who let him slip away."
Without stopping, Silverna left the fortress.
Liana stood there, lips pressed tightly together, saying nothing.
No — she couldn't say anything.
What could she do at this point?
The consequences of her choice.
No matter the reason, she had chosen to stay silent back at the estate.
And so, here too—
She remained silent.
Because that's what Isaac wanted from her.